The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-01-05
agricultural.
T. H. HOSklNS, M. D., Editor,
Newport, Vermont.
The Dairymen's Association.

in its past work, as well as good deal
of solicitude for its future, and the
question of the finances of the associa-
ton is being agitated by some of the
officers Gin my opinion) at the present
time to such an extent that there is
danger that we may overlook some
other matters that are much more i'm
portant to the prosperity of the associa-
ton. ! always appreciated Mr.. Bliss,
his energy and perseverance. His con-
ception of what constituted profitable
and interesting meeting for the dairy
men of the state built up the associa-
ton. He had failings, grievous ones,
but these good qualities of his made
the Vermont Dairymen's Association
the best institution of its kind in the
country, and it is certain that if its
meetings are allowed to degenerate in
character its prestige and usefulness
will go also, as that is all there is TO it.
The laboring oar of the institution rests
upon the secretary; he must not fail in
Judgment of the talent that should be col
lected for the meetings, nor in appoint
ing the place and time and advertising
we'll in advance of meetings. The
dairymen must be induced to come, and
given feast when they arrive. The
association is a success in proportion as
the above is carried out. The dairy
men of the state at these meetings
have always contributed abundantly for
all its necessary expenses, and they al
ways will, so long as the institution
gives them an equivalent and is worthy
of their support. When it fails to be
worth supporting l have no doubt the
dairymen will perceive it and with
draw, as they ought TO do. 1 take pleas
ure in the fact that the Vermont Dairy
mems Association is carried from year
to year, financially, upon the approval
of the dairymen of the state. There
has been no time since my connection
with the organization that the treasury
did not hold money enough to pay for
one or two years. meetings in advance,
as security against accident from any
cause, and giving its officers confidence
in laying out work for the meetings.
The talk about the poverty of the asso-
citation, in my opinion, is uncalled for;
it has had all the money it needed for
legitimate use, and it always will have
if it is managed so as to hold the conf
dence and respect of those it is created
to benefit. 1t never had sufficient funds
to send its officers to different parts of
the country to fraternize with kindred
institutions. / presume the dairymen
do not consider it necessary. If we had
an overcharged treasury / can see that
contentious and discussions might arise
as to its use or abuse, which we now
avoid. The State Fair Association is
quoted to us as an institution on a solid
foundation financially that the dairy
men should emulate in the management
of their affairs. 1t needs but glance
to realize the difference between the
two. The resources that the State Fair
Association have had, and now have,
has given them a respectable fund,
and l know of nobody that would OBJ
iect to good-sized reserve fund for the
Dairymen's Association if it could be
realized. We dairymen have been try
ing for some years to secure little re-
serve fund individually with rather in
different success. The Dairymen's
Association has been, and should be
continued, a greater success than can
be measured by any financial standard,
and the men that do the work must
look for some other than financial re-
ward. The secretary has field as
broad and fertile as that of Marshall p.
Wilder or Colonel Russell, or others
that / might name who have honored
agriculture by their work and have been
honored in return.
REMARKS BY THE AGRICULTURAL
from the pen of one of our best dairy
men, and we cheerfully give it place
in our columns. 1t is quite true tina
pecuniary success ought not to be the
chief aim in conducting our Dairymen''
Association, and we should be far from
advising it to emulate the State Agri
cultural Society in this respect. But W.
feel obliged to differ from our CORE
spondent in his opinion that the Officers
of the association are likely to do bet
ter work on a short allowance than OF
liberal one; or that the accumulation
of liberal fund would work injury il
any way We do not know that mucl
is to be gained by sending delegates t
the meetings of other state association
at the expense of our own. But Their
are other legitimate purposes of tn
first Importance in connection wit
markets, and with both state and ma
tional legislation, for which funds hav
been and will be needed. Nor do W
think that there is, or has always beer
as much money in the treasury as Nigh